India, with its rich history and diverse culture, stands as a testament to resilience and progress. After the country got independence in the year 1947, there are many a changes have taken place in the different sectors during the past seven decades. However, despite the long journey traversed, a significant part of the nation remains to be built, with approximately 90% of potential still untapped.
Economic Growth and Industrialization
The economic development is one of the main achievements when it comes to independent India. A country with a primarily agricultural background has grown into one of the fastest-growing economies globally. The liberalization reforms from the early 1990s catalysed local initiative and external capital. Critic further highlighted that modern Industries have placed India on map of the world with Information technology serving as hub for software development and business processing outsourcing.
However, the journey towards the achievement of the vision is still continuing. The development of industries is still rather inconstant, the role of which in the GDP of the country is still comprised around 17%. The “Make in India” policy launched by the central government is to promote manufacturing and, therefore, employment, but problems like deficient infrastructure, bureaucratic hurdles, and lack of qualified workforce have yet not been solved. Yet, more than a decade on, what India requires is a firmer, and also a more open industrial policy.
Infrastructure and Urbanization
A lot of progress has been made under infrastructure where there has been construction of highways, railways and ports. Highways projects such as Golden Quadrilateral and Bharatmala Pariyojana has been an increase in urbanization with a growth in both size of cities and number of cities.
However these developments are still unfortunately low and behind par with the rest of the world when it comes to infrastructure in India. Road connectivity, electric supply, and sanitation are issues that most large and middle-sized villages and cities are facing daily. Problems affecting urban centres include traffic jam, pollution and poorly developed transport systems amongst others. The Smart Cities Mission and such programmes as AMRUT attempt to solve these challenges; however, the creation of sustainable and inclusive infrastructure requires continuous work and financial investment.
Social Progress and Human Development
In social development indicators; literacy, health and life expectancy India has shown considerable advancement. Education level has realised a steady improvement from a recorded 12 percent at independence to over 74 percent as of the current date. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and National Health Mission are among the significant programs that have made important difference in education and healthcare systems.
However, disparities persist. Education and health care are still considered a luxury for the majority of the people especially the rural poor and those living in the unpopular regions. This makes it important for gender sensitive efforts to be made especially in literacy as well as in employment. It’s important for social progress for all to devoid these issues through fair policies and action plans.
Innovation and Technology
India has done reasonably well in the case of innovative and technical advancement. The country has emerged as space power country and having successful missions Mangalyaan and Chandrayaan. The tech industry is still growing and expanding as many Indian startups grab global attention.
However, what complicates this, is the digital divide. While the online services are quite widespread and well-developed in large cities, the rural regions tend to have the opposite problem, namely poor connectivity to the Internet and low literacy of its population. Overcoming this gap is essential for the effective technologicalization of society and making information and communication technologies available to each citizen.
Environmental Sustainability
Environment sustainability is an increasing issue, a concern for India as it continues to evolve. Industrialization, unplanned development and pollution of homes and environment have caused deforestation, water and air pollution and deaths of species. Measures such as Swachh Bharat Mission and promotion of renewable energy can be taken as the good start.
However, for sustainable development there is need for a much broader framework. It has to realize economic development on one side, and the protection of the environment on the other side by encouraging sustainable farming, industrialization, and urbanization.
Why 90% of the Nation is yet to Be Built?
India is a country with glorious historical and culturally diverse background and the country has grown remarkably well after gaining independence in the year 1947. Nevertheless, it is today ninety percent of the nation is still at the drawing board. This idea captures the extensive opportunities still unexplored and different problems which have to be solved to unleash this potential.
Economic Distribution and the Developing Regions
Many areas in the nation have not been developed mainly because of failure in addressing economic disparities within the society. Mega-polies such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore demonstrate the tendencies toward the development and the formation of a modern infrastructure; however, many territories stay behind, especially if it comes to the rural districts. These are the underdeveloped regions where there are little or no infrastructure, education, health facilities, and few or no employment opoutunities so people remain poor and their regions remain backward.
To close this gap, effort to develop these regions through implementing policies and making investment is needed. Especially Rural development programs, Skill development schemes, decentralized planning etc., These are some of the measures that would reduce the rural urban divide and thus make sure that the benefits of economic growth reach the remotest of the parts of this amazing nation.
Inadequate Infrastructure
Infrastructure matters and consists of an essential part of nation’s development. Though improvement has been done on highways, airports, and urban development, a still huge deficiency exists in the rural and semi urban development. Lack of proper road, constant power outages and proper sanitation amenities affect economic activities and standards of living in these regions.
To overcome these challenges the government should ensure investment in infrastructure in the given regions. Investments to infrastructure in the rural areas, renewable energy and water resource infrastructure to provide for an environment that will FOSTER economic growth must be undertaken by the government.
Training and Skills Acquisition
Education is the single most important parameter of any given nation’s development. Even now, literacy levels are still improving in India, but the bigger question is whether the country is ready for education to every one of its citizen. Majority of schools in rural and remote regions have inadequate infrastructure, recruited teachers and teaching aids. Furthermore, there is an acute shortage of demand-supply match with respect to the knowledge and abilities expected from the education system, and the requirements of the existing and emerging occupations.
To resolve these issues, the government needs to aim at enhancing the quality of education and raise the access to skilling development initiatives. Measures such as digital education, vocation training, and public-private partnership will enhance the abilities and capacity of the young people to contribute in the current economy to enhance the nation’s development.
Healthcare Disparities
Healthcare is one of the most important sector where India stands to lose big time. Whereas, large hospitals, and specialized medical treatment are available for patients in urban areas, there is no proper primary health care and treatment available in rural areas. Consequently, there are increased body ailments and underdevelopment to various regions of the world.
It has become strategically clear that enhancing the options available for the population in the sphere of healthcare and augmenting the quality of the services provided for individuals residing in underdeveloped regions can and should be achieved by addressing various factors. In healthcare delivery, investment in the health care systems, training of human resource and adopting innovative technologies such as telemedicine will go a long way to helping ensure that everyone gets the health care they need.
Environmental Sustainability
While India and a number of other nations continue their development, environmental concerns become a significant issue. Environmental degradation, air and water pollution, bio-diversity loss and deforestation are the consequences of industrialization, urbanization and increased population. Such problems affect not only people’s standard of living and health but also have a potentially detrimental effect on the continuation of economic development.
To deal with these challenges, only sustainable development strategies that will have admixture of both economic growth and protection of environment can be achieved in India. There is thus need to implement sound policies on energy and other natural resource use, disposal and conservation for sustainable development.
How, India can overcome these challenges?
- Bridging Economic Inequality: This comes about because economic disparities remain as some of the key challenges to integration. Despite the fact some metropolitan countries have evolved with stable employment incomes, development and poverty reduction, most rural areas have remained stagnant with few employment opportunities. In order to solve this problem the government has to pay more attention to the development of regional economic planning and people should invest in the undeveloped areas of the country.
- Investing in Infrastructure: Infrastructural development is paramount in the development of country. In the case of solar and wind energy resource the electricity to the remote areas can be provided by making investments. Also, efforts towards upgrading cross-sections and transport infrastructure will promote accessibility to and trade in goods and services. There is a lot of potential in cooperation with the private sector when it comes to preparing and implementing investment in infrastructure.
- Improving Learning and Training: Education is counted as the backbone of any country. To counter these odds, India needs to upgrade the grade on these sources of education and increase the coverage of vocational training opportunities. Other programs such as digital education, e-learning facilities can bring urban to rural education disparity.
- Improving Healthcare Access: In the Indian context inequality has emerged as a major factor through the prevention of equal access to healthcare services. To solve these problems, the government needs to increase investing in the healthcare system and service in the undeveloped areas. It is possible to bring doctors and check-ups through telemedicine and through special mobile health facilities for hard-to-reach populations in the regions. Currently, investments in primary care centres will guarantee the delivery of services in areas that are not covered by any institutions.
- Environmental Conservation: While developing India also has to scenario of development and conservation in development field. It has also highlighted sustainable development practices are necessary to avoid leaving behind for the next generation an un-viable environment. The polices in favour are supporting renewable energy and energy efficiency, waste management and the conservation of natural resources.